The Syrian Coalition emphasized that its new leadership is keenly seeking to reach out to all forces and components of the Syrian revolution, including the political, civil, and military forces, women and youth who constitute the social base of the revolution.

Secretary-General of the Syrian Coalition Nazir Hakim explained that the Coalition has drawn up a clear strategy aimed at restoring the leading, real role of the institutions of the revolution through effective engagement with new components and forces.

Speaking during a meeting with representatives of the Waad Party at the headquarters of the Syrian Coalition in Istanbul on Saturday, Hakim stressed the need for the Coalition “to set a foothold in Syria as necessary step to effectively participate in the rebuilding and re-stabilization of Syria.”

Hakim reaffirmed the Coalition’s support for the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC), stressing also the commitment of the Coalition and the HNC to the goals of the revolution and to a political solution leading to the establishment of a transitional governing body without Bashar al-Assad and his clique.

“The Coalition is keen to engage and cooperate with all forces of the revolution through several mechanisms being discussed by the political committee on a daily basis,” Hakim added.

For their part, representatives of the Waad Party expressed support for the plans of action developed by the Coalition, adding that the Waad Party is an independent national party whose decisions are made without interference from any other party. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif said that the forced displacement operations aimed at bringing about demographic change in Syria constitute “war crimes.” He stressed the need for the United Nations to take concrete action to prevent these operations and hold to account those responsible.

During a teleconference between President Seif and members of the political committee with FSA commanders, medics, and rescue workers in the neighborhood of Qaboun in Damascus on Saturday, Seif warned of plans by the Assad regime and the allied Iranian militias to force a new evacuation deal on residents of the district.

Doctor Nizar, head of the medical committee in Qaboun, said that that are many injuries in the district that need urgent treatment, the most critical of which are neurological injuries. He added that they lack the necessary medical equipment and medicine to treat these injuries.

Head of the civil defense in Qaboun Abu Hassan said that the district has been subjected to constant bombing for more than two months, noting that around 80 percent of the rebel-held district has been reduced to rubble.

Abu Hasan added that around 300 families are still living in Qaboun under constant danger of regime bombardment. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

The Syrian Coalition called on the United Nations to push for direct negotiations between the opposition and the Assad regime in the talks to be held in Geneva in the period between 16-19 May.

Member of the Coalition’s political committee Hadi Bahra on Saturday stressed the need for “clear negotiating course” involving direct negotiations between the delegations of the Assad regime and the opposition.

The Assad regime is seeking to gain time as it is still avoiding engaging seriously in negotiations, Bahra told Al-Arabiya TV channel.

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif reaffirmed the Coalition’s support for the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee and its delegation to Geneva talks during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Thursday.

Secretary-General of the Syrian Coalition Nazir Alhakim said that the Coalition and its presidential body entertain hope in the upcoming round of negotiations in Geneva during a meeting with the Spanish Undersecretary in the Spanish Embassy in Turkey Jose Luis Santos on Friday.

Alhakim stressed the need for a greater role by Turkey, the Arab countries, the United States, and the European Union in the political process in Syria. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif and an accompanying delegation on Thursday met with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and advisor and Undersecretary in the Turkish foreign ministry Umit Yalcin.

The Coalition’s delegation included Vice-presidents Abdul Rahman Mustafa and Salwa Aktaw, Secretary-General Nazir Alhakim, and member of the political committee Hawass Saadoun.

The two parties discussed the latest political and field developments in Syria, while Seif thanked the Turkish leadership and the Turkish people for supporting the Syrian people’s struggle for freedom and dignity.

Seif outlined the vision of the Coalition’s new presidential body for the next phase and gave an overview of the projects the Syrian interim government is working to implement in the liberated areas. He praised the cooperation shown by all Turkish government institutions in facilitating these projects and working with the interim government staff.

The two sides also discussed the facilitation of procedures of some issues involving Syrian refugees in Turkey, most importantly the issue of the travel visas, residencies, and education.

For his part, Cavusoglu congratulated the Coalition’s new presidential body for winning the confidence of the Syrian Coalition as he affirmed his country's support for the legitimate rights of the Syrian people and its keenness to preserve the unity of Syria.

Turkey’s top diplomat also reaffirmed his country’s continued support for the delegation of the Syrian opposition in the Geneva negotiations. He pointed to the need for greater cooperation and coordination between the political and military opposition, especially between the Syrian Coalition and the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

Secretary-General of the Syrian Coalition Nazir Alhakim stressed that Iran cannot play the role of a guarantor in Syria as it is aiding and abetting the Assad regime in its war on the Syrian people.

Alhakim also said that the Assad regime’s international backer, Russia, proclaimed itself a guarantor of the latest Astana agreement; however, it has so far failed to prove its credibility and stop the Assad regime’s crimes.

Alhakim made these remarks during a meeting with Undersecretary in the Spanish Embassy in Turkey Jose Luis Santos on Friday. Both sides discussed the latest political and field developments in Syria.

Alhakim noted that the Coalition and its presidential body entertain hope in the upcoming round of negotiations in Geneva and the role of Turkey, the Arab countries, the United States, and the European Union, adding that these countries "should play a more effective role in Syria.” The two sides expressed support for the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee and its negotiating delegation to Geneva.

The two sides also discussed the role Spain can play in building a new Syria and in responding to the humanitarian needs of the Syrian people. Alhakim stressed all support for the Syrian people need to be channeled through the Syrian Coalition and its institutions, namely the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) and the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU).

The meeting also agreed that the SIG and ACU will submit a number of plans for development projects to the Spanish government to secure funding for these projects.

For his part, Santos congratulated the Secretary-General and the new presidential body for winning the confidence of the Syrian Coalition as he stressed the important role of the Coalition in leading the current phase of the revolution. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

Secretary-General of the Syrian Coalition Nazir Alhakim reiterated the Coalition’s support for the political process in Geneva. He stressed that the negotiations must lead to the formation of a transitional governing body with full of executive powers in which Assad and his clique do not have any role in line with the Geneva Communique of 2012 and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Alhakim made his remarks during a meeting with the First Secretary of the Australian Embassy in Ankara, Tamsen Sanderson. The meeting discussed the latest field and political developments in Syria and stressed the importance of the development of bilateral relations.

Alhakim emphasized that the Assad regime is seeking to stall the political process in Geneva as it still refuses to implement international resolutions and insists on pursuing a military solution to the crisis. He added that the Assad regime’s policies are the reason for prolonging the crisis in Syria and the emergence of terrorist organizations.

Alhakim pointed out that the support offered by the Australian government to the Syrian people should be channeled through the Syrian Coalition and its institutions, namely the Syrian Interim Government (SIG) and the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU). He noted that the Assad regime continues to seize aid provided by the UN agencies to feed its war machine distributing it to its militants and the Iranian-backed militias. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

The Syrian Coalition reaffirmed commitment to negotiations in Geneva aimed at bringing about full political solution in accordance with the Geneva Communiqué of 2012 and the UN Security Council Resolutions 2118 and 2254. It reiterated that any political solution must lead to the formation of a transitional governing body with full powers, the departure of Bashar al-Assad, and accountability for war crimes carried out in Syria.

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif reiterated support for the opposition’s High Negotiations Committee (HNC) and its negotiating delegation to Geneva during a meeting with Coalition members in the HNC. Seif also reiterated commitment to provide all forms of support for the HNC to succeed in its task.

Participants in the meeting stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between the Coalition and the HNC and uniting efforts to reach a political solution that would end the bloodshed in Syria and the suffering of the Syrian people.

Seif slammed Iran’s “criminal role” in Syria as it continues to support the crimes of the Assad regime through its militias deployed in Syria which now constitute the bulk of the regime's forces.

The UN envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura earlier said that the UN will reconvene negotiations in Geneva on May 16. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

Militants of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) stormed the office of the General Secretariat of the Kurdish National Council (KNC) in the town of Qamishli yesterday Tuesday and detained 13 senior members of the Council. They also forced the office to close.

The Council condemned the PYD’s detention of members of its General Secretariat, stressing that these militias "are exploiting the international consensus on the need to prioritize the fight against ISIS in the region.” It pointed out that the PYD “is seeking to force the Council to recognize their administration despite their mismanagement of the region."

"We assure the whole world that the terrorist practices of this party have exposed their false claims and slogans of seeking to promote democracy," the Council added.

The PYD militias’ move came in response to the Council’s reopening of its office in Qamishli earlier this week.

The KNC is one of the main components of the Syrian Coalition as a representative of the Kurdish community in Syria.

The Council stressed that the PYD’s terrorist practices “will only increase the Council's determination to defend our people.” It added that “it will continue to stand up against the repressive practices of the PYD as they only serve the interests of the abhorrent Baath regime.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

The newly-elected President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif said the recent field and regional developments will not affect the Syrian people’s demands for a full political transition that begins with the departure of Bashar al-Assad and the pillars of his regime.

Seif, who was elected President by the Coalition’s General Assembly on Saturday, said that there is a consensus among all revolutionary and opposition forces that “Bashar al-Assad and his inner circle must not have any role to play in the transitional period or in the future of Syria.”

In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Seif pointed out that the Syrian Coalition is the most convincing among all Syrian opposition bodies, pointing to the need to reforms and describing such a task as a priority.

The Coalition’s next step is to carry out the role assigned to it when it saw the light on November, 11, 2012, which is to lead the Syrian people and mobilize all efforts to overthrow the Assad regime and provide services to the Syrian people in the liberated areas.

The General Assembly on Saturday also elected Abdulrahman Mustafa and Salwa Aktaw as vice-presidents and Nazir Alhakim as secretary-general.

Seif, who was born in Damascus, is a prominent veteran dissident. He was arrested by the Assad regime two times before the Syrian revolution. He spent years in Assad’s prisons for his activities during the Damascus Spring. He was detained from 2008 to 2010, and was also arrested in early 2011 on charges of participating in anti-regime demonstrations. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

President of the Syrian Coalition Riad Seif stressed the need to develop stronger relations with the European Union during a meeting with an EU foreign affairs advisor Lara Scarpitta at the headquarters of the Coalition in Istanbul on Monday.

Seif urged the EU for moral support to arrange quick and high-level visits to all EU countries. The new leadership of the Coalition will focus on boosting confidence and enhancing the Coalition’s credibility in the eyes of the Syrian people, Seif said.

"We nourish positive expectations, and now we have an opportunity to prove ourselves to the Syrian people," Seif said. He referred to “a 100-day plan to improve the performance of the Syrian Coalition, expand representation, and reach out to all civil and military groups and forces of the Syrian revolution and the opposition.”

Seif stressed that this plan will help the Coalition play a leading role and enable it to engage in a political process and achieve a political solution that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people.

Seif thanked the European Union for the support it provides to the Syrian interim government. He described the EU’s support as very important in light of the fact that the Assad regime’ war against the Syrian people has so far displaced nearly 14 million people and killed and wounded hundreds of thousands more. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)